Its Africa’s time to rise, unite – Raila

By Jabali Media

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader, Raila Odinga’s main agenda will be to champion for the unity of Africa, if elected the next African Union Commission (AUC) chairman in 2025.

Elections for the next AUC chairman will be conducted in February, 2025, to replace Chad’s Moussa Faki Mahamat whose second term is drawing to a close. Odinga is one of the frontrunners to replace Faki.

Speaking at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium, Mamboleo, Kisumu on Monday while officially opening the World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC), Odinga said Africans must unite to realise their full potential, especially economically.

“This is Africa’s moment. It is our time to rise, unite, and shape a future in which every African is empowered and our continent thrives. Together, we can construct a future that reflects our shared vision and power,” said the former Prime Minister.

Festac celebrates African culture as expressed in food, music, stories, dances, business, fashion and sports.

The event, Odinga noted, is very much in line with aspiration 5 of Agenda 2063 of the African Union which envisages an Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics and focused on pan Africanism.

“We have to admit that as a continent, we have not invested enough in creative industries and we have not used the industry as we should, to unite our people and integrate the continent.”

At events like this, he added, “We reaffirm what we often take for granted or even doubt; that Africans are one people.”

Odinga expressed regret at what he said was divisions among Africans, compared to societies with multiple cultures.

“It is however a painful contradiction and a matter of great concern that despite the near uniformity in our beliefs and traditions, Africa is more divided than those societies with multiple cultures. We have never harnessed our music, food, stories and family connections to deliberately pursue unity and advance our cause as a people.”

The event was attended by, among others, Kisumu governor Anyang’ Nyong’o and former Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Obasanjo, one of Africa’s eminent persons, is backing Odinga’s AUC chairmanship bid.